Duke notched a 6-5 spread record in its final 11
contests last year, including a 3-2 ATS mark as a double-digit favorite. Cook
and Co. suffered an early exit from the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament,
losing an 83-74 battle as 10-point ‘chalk’ to the Maryland Terrpains, followed
by a trio of sizable wins as part of “March Madness” before their setback with
Louisville.

Parker joins Jefferson, Hood

Duke’s Jabari Parker is the team’s top new
recruit, expected to start in the front court alongside sophomores Amile
Jefferson and Rodney Hood. Parker comes in with his share of accolades from
Chicago’s Simeon Academy, while piling in 18.4 PPG and 10.4 RPG in his senior
year.

Jefferson saw most of his freshman season’s
playing time during the heart of ACC conference play, putting up double digits
in road duels with the Miami Hurricanes, Florida State Seminoles and North
Carolina State Wolfpack. The Philadelphia native shot 54.3 percent from the
field through the year, while logging three blocks in Duke’s 84-64 win as 12
point home ‘chalk’ over Maryland

Duke’s first big test of the year comes in
Chicago, meeting the Kansas Jayhawks as part of the State Farm Champions
Classic. The Blue Devils then finish November with the Preseason NIT, facing a
possible meeting with the Arizona Wildcats.

December’s schedule has a home clash slated with
the Michigan Wolverines in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, followed by a marquee
date at New York’s Madison Square Garden against the UCLA Bruins. Atlantic
Coast Conference play then begins with January’s visit to South Bend, facing
the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Duke will have its rivalry dates with the North
Carolina Tar Heels circled, following a pair of victories in both meetings last
year. The Blue Devils fell short of cashing ATS in February’s 73-68 victory as
10 ½-point home favorites, while holding off UNC in March’s 69-53 triumph to
collect as two-point road dogs.

Duke will hate its share of challenges, but
should be in position for a top seed in this year’s “March Madness.” “Coach K” and his troops cashed at 7-3 ATS in
their first 10 ‘board’ battles last year and are again worth backing for some
sizable wins out of the gate with our NCAA basketball picks.